High-power pseudospark and BLT switches

Author

Frank, Klaus ; Boggasch, Ekkehard ; Christiansen, Jorgen ; Goertler, A. ; Hartmann, W. ; Kozlik, C. ; Kirkman, G. ; Braun, Claus ; Dominic, V. ; Gundersen, M.A. ; Riege, H. ; Mechterscheimer, G.

Author_Institution

Phys. Inst., Erlangen-Nurnberg Univ., West Germany

Volume

16

Issue

2

fYear

1988

fDate

4/1/1988 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

317

Lastpage

323

Abstract

A review is presented of recent developments in a new group of high-power hollow-electrode switches, including the pseudospark and the backlighted thyratron (BLT). Experiments demonstrate that for several key high-power switching performance factors, the pseudospark and BLT switches are superior to either high-pressure spark gap switches or thyratrons or, in some cases, both. High performance has been demonstrated in peak current (>100 kA), current rate of rise (>10 ¹² A/s), switching precision, trigger efficiency, current reversal (100%), and recovery time. Several electrical and optical trigger methods have been demonstrated and are described

Keywords

sparks; switches; thyratrons; BLT switches; backlighted thyratron; current rate of rise; current reversal; electrical trigger method; high-power hollow-electrode switches; optical trigger methods; peak current; performance factors; pseudospark; recovery time; switching precision; trigger efficiency; Copper; Electron beams; Gas lasers; Hydrogen; Optical switches; Research and development; Sparks; Testing; Thyratrons; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.3831

Filename

3831